The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the World Bank Group, held a National Workshop on Logistics Efficiency Enhancement on February 27, 2024, in New Delhi. The event aimed to unite the logistics sector community, fostering discussions on logistics performance, identifying improvement areas, and brainstorming solutions.
The workshop opened with the presence of notable figures, including Shri Rajeev S. Thakur, Additional Secretary of DPIIT; Shri E. Srinivas, Joint Secretary of DPIIT; Mr. Auguste Tano Kouame, Country Director of the World Bank; and Ms. Mio Oka, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The event saw participation from over 100 representatives spanning various Indian Ministries/Departments, state officials, multilateral institutions, and industry associations.
Structured into three key sessions, the workshop began with discussions on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI), examining the new approach and methodology for its calculation. The World Bank’s representatives outlined a shift from perception-based assessments to a more objective, data-driven analysis, incorporating new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to accurately measure global trade speeds.
The second session delved into the corridor approach to logistics, focusing on the Bharatmala and Sagarmala projects. These initiatives are critical for enhancing logistics efficiency, reducing costs, and improving connectivity at the beginning and end of the supply chain. While Bharatmala seeks to optimize freight and passenger movement by addressing infrastructure gaps, Sagarmala is aimed at promoting port-led industrialization and job creation.
In the third session, state officials shared insights into best practices, reforms, and digital efforts undertaken to boost logistics efficiency within their regions. They discussed challenges encountered in implementing state logistics policies and identified areas where support from the Central Government, private sector, and other stakeholders is necessary.
The workshop provided a comprehensive overview of the LPI calculation methodology and its six parameters, emphasizing the importance of digitalization in simplifying logistics operations in India. Discussions also covered economic corridor development initiatives by various ministries. The event concluded with a consensus among participating Ministries/Departments on developing targeted action plans. These plans aim to reduce logistics costs, enhance efficiency, and tackle both physical and digital infrastructure challenges, with guidance from DPIIT and relevant stakeholders.